Authorities reportedly charged a Kansas City-area educator with a sex crime involving a 15-year-old.
Jackson County Prosecutors formally charged Jonathan Newton, identified in court documents as a “former school teacher aide,” with second-degree child sex trafficking after the teenager and an adult guardian allegedly talked with Kansas City police on March 27, according to court records obtained by KMBC News 9. Newton allegedly contacted the minor victim via Snapchat.
Newton requested a sexually explicit image from the child, according to the documents. A probable cause statement alleged that Newton confessed to having what he described as an “inappropriate conversation” with the 15-year-old via the social media app when speaking to law enforcement. (RELATED: Authorities Uncover Child Sex Trafficking Ring In Underground Bunker With 3-Year-Old)
Former Kansas City educator charged with sex trafficking, accused of asking student for explicit photos https://t.co/5oQCHj5qm4
— FOX4 News Kansas City (@fox4kc) July 22, 2025
Newton allegedly said he was 31 years old when he contacted the minor. He also admitted that he first met the victim when both were at the same school, according to the probable cause statement.
Prosecutors asked for a $75,000 bond with conditions of release including house arrest and a restriction barring Newton from being within 1,000 feet of Kanas City, Missouri’s Brookside Charter School, according to KMBC News 9.
Olivia Markey, a specialist in commercial sexual exploitation of children with the Child Protection Center, told KMBC News 9 such incidents can be especially harmful when the accused is in a position of trust. “It can be really traumatic,” she said, citing the emotional damage caused when a trusted adult allegedly engages in such behavior.
“But I think just being a present parent and knowing what your kid is doing online, as well as just kids being aware and learning that they can speak up,” Markey continued.